Media formatting

1. A method of delivering a television program from a single media source to first and second settop boxes (STBs), the first and second STBs requiring the television program to be formatted respectively according to first and second codecs, the method comprising: the media source identifying the first and second codecs operating on the first and second STBs based on information collected from management information bases (MIBs) of the first and second STBs; from a beginning of the television program, the media source formatting the television program according to the first codec to support unicast delivery to the first STB, the unicast delivery characterized as being accessible solely to the first STB; and after the beginning of the television program, the media source formatting the television program according to the second codec to support multicast delivery to the second STB, the remainder of the television program being less than the entire length of the television program and the multicast delivery characterized as being accessible to at least both of the first and second STBs.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising storing the collected information for use by the media provider in formatting subsequent television program for delivery.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising delivering the television program over a first television channel for the unicast delivery and a second television channel for the multicast delivery.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising the media provider formatting the television program according to a third codec and for inclusion within the multicast delivery such that different multicast channels carry multiple formats.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising installing an application on the second and third STBs to select one of the multicast channels as a function of the formatting thereof so as to match the selected channel with the operation characteristics of the second and third STBs.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising the media source formatting the television program according to the second codec only after receiving a request for the same from the second STB.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising the media source terminating the unicast delivery in response to the first STB tuning away from the television program and terminating the multicast delivery in response to the second STB tuning away from the television program.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising the media source collecting the information after the first and second STBs are deployed.

9. A method of broadcasting television programs from a source over a switched video platform to a number of terminals wherein at least a first and second one of the number of terminals having different operating characteristics, wherein the operating characteristics of the first and second terminals both support a first codec and only the operating characteristics of the second terminal supports a second codec, the switched video platform including a first number of television channels that are continuously transmitted regardless of whether one of the first number of television channels is being watched by one of the number of terminals and the switched video platform including an second number of television channels that are each individually transmitted only while being watched by at least one of the number of terminals, the method comprising: the source formatting a television program from transmission over one of the first number of television channels and according to the first codec that is supported by the operating characteristics of at least both of the first and second terminals; and upon receipt of a request form the second terminal, the source also formatting the television program for transmission over one of the second number of television channels and according to the second codec that is not supported by the operating characteristics of the first terminal.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising the source ceasing transmission of the television program over the one of the second number of television channels in response to the second terminal tuning away.

11. The method of claim 9 further comprising the source transmitting each of the first and the second number of the number of television channels to each of the first and the second terminals.

12. A system of formatting media for one or more media terminals configured to facilitate accessing the media, the system comprising: a media source configured for formatting the media according to a number of available media formats; at least one format selection element configured to relate the available media formats to operating characteristics of the one or more media terminals so as to facilitate access to the media as a function of the media formats associated therewith; and after the media source begins transmitting one particular piece of media according to a first format available for the operating characteristics of a first one of the media terminals, the media source subsequently beginning simultaneous transmission of the same particular piece of media according to a second format available for the operating characteristics of a second one of the media terminals.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the format selection element is located remotely from the media terminals and configured to collect operating characteristics for the media terminals after the media terminal is deployed and further configured to communicate with the media source in order to facilitate formatting of the media to correspond with the operating characteristics of at least one of the terminals.

14. The system of claim 12 wherein the media source formats the media according to multiple formats and includes an announcement to announce the formats and wherein the format selection element is included on the terminals for use in selecting the media according to the announced media format and operating characteristics of the associated media terminal.

15. The system of claim 12 wherein the source transmits the particular piece of media over switched video platform where the first format is carried over a first channel regardless of whether the first channel is being watched and where the second format is carried over a second channel only when the second channel is being watched.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the source transmits the first and second channels to both of the first and second media terminals.

17. The system of claim 12 wherein the source transmits the particular piece of media with the first format over a multicast channel to both of the first and second ones of the media terminals.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the source transmits the particular piece of media with the second format over a unicast channel to the second one of the media terminals.

19. The system of claim 12 wherein the source is a single server.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the first media terminal is a settop box (STB) configured to operate according to a first codec that is compatible with the first format.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein the second media terminal is a settop box (STB) configured to operate according to the first codec that is compatible with the first format and a second codec that is compatible with the second format, wherein the first media terminal is not compatible with the second codec.